Filling powdered or granular material into containers



June 8, 1965 B. w. oss 3,187,957 FILLING POWDERED 0R GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO CONTAINERS Filed March 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BOYD W. ROSE ATTORNEY 3,187,957 FILLING POWDERED OR GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO CONTAINERS Filed March 51, 1961 B. W. ROSE June 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BOYD W. ROSE 8 .%S 7 m w 6 I 7 m u 2 3 5 e a ll r M ru IP I W 5 l 6 /U Or. 0 b O 8 5 0 M u 1 WU IIIHHHIIIIII O m a 9 n M //M///%// I 6 2 O w A 1 3 8 o O 3. 3

BY Qm W ATTORNEY June 8, 19 65 B. w. ROSE 3, 8 ,95 FILLING POWDERED OR GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO CONTAINERS Filed March 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 122 '70 7o 74 {28 I26 74 80 I129 E I 82 l as 8 so 102 104 93 92 iOO f 50f 1 E o o 3 E i i M ll 0 34 36 O 3 43' O 0 Q8 32 o 0 a INVENTOR BOYD W. ROSE ATTORNEY June 8, 1965 B. w. ROSE 3,187,957

FILLING POWDERED OR GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO CONTAINERS Filed March 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TIE E| INVENTOR BOYD W. ROSE BY W ATTORNEY United States Patent I 'HILING PGWDERED GR GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO CONTAINERS Boyd W. Rose, Riverside, Calif., assignor to FMC Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 31, 1261, Ser. No. 99,785 10 Claims. (6i. 222189) pending application Serial No. 42,687, filed July 13,

1960, for Apparatus for Filling Powdered or Granular Material Into Containers.

in prior container filling mechanisms of the fluidizing type, the storage and fluidizing chamber for the material had to be of considerable height in order to provide sufficient pressure head to cause the material to flow into the container. The present invention isdesigned toeliminate the'need for a tall storage chamber while retaining the desirable flow characteristics thereof by applying dynamic fluid pressure to the storage chamber during the container filling cycle. 1

9 It i therefore an object of the invention to provide apparatus for packing fluidized] powdered material into bags wherein a constant head is maintained on, the fluidized material to insure accuracy ofthe quantityv of material deposited in the bags.

Another object is to provide an improved venting mechanism for a filling machine. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for packing fluidized material into bags, wherein the storage chamber is pressurized so that the rate of flow into the. bags is not dependent on gravity alone and, accordingly, the fluidized storage container need not be as tall as it must be in machines of this type which rely only on how due to the effect of gravity.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FlG. l is a schematic side elevation of a bag filling installation employing the bag filling aparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bag filling apparatus of FIG. 1 drawn to a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the bag filling apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the pneumatic system for controlling the operation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

The embodiment of the fluidizing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a fluidizing pressure chamber A having a bag-filling spout B adjacent to its lower end. A bag 9 to be filled i placed on a bag support C which is, in turn, mounted on a scale 11. The bag 9 is of the type wherein the material enters the bag 3,187,957 Patented June 8, 1965 opening. As the bag 9 is being filled, the bag and its contents are continuously weighed by the scale 11. When a desired weight of material is reached, the scale automatically activates a control system to close a valve mechanism D (FIG. 2) which stops the flow of material into thebag 9. Immediately thereafter, the bag seal is deflated and the filling spout is swung away from the clamping structure. Due to the fact that the weight of the bag is disposed on the bag support C in an off-center position and to the fact that the upper end of the bag is released from the spout B, the filled bag swings outwardly and falls free of the apparatus. The above-mentioned members of the machine of FIG. 1 are substantially identical to those disclosed in my US. Patents No. 2,866,484.

' Accordingly, reference may be had to this patent for a more detailed'description of the filling spout B and its mounting, the scale mechanism 11, the bag clamping mechanism 13, the pneumatic bag seal 15, the valve mechanism D which stops the flow of material into the bag,

the bag support C, and any of the other mechanisms not described in detail hereinafter.

After each bag-filling operation, material to replenish the pressure chamber A is supplied to the chamber through a pneumatically controlled valve assembly E (FIGS. 1 and 2) from a second fluidizing chamber P which in turn is connected by a conduit G to storage hoppers H (FIG. 1). In accordance 'with the teaching of the, present invention, low pressure air for pressurizing the chamber A, and for fluidizing the chamber F, is supplied by a high volume low pressure blower I.

The pressure chamber A (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) is composed of a front wall 10, a rear wall 12 and two side walls'ld and 16. The bottom wall 18 of the chamber slopes downwardly and forwardly toward the front wall It As seen in FIG. 2, a false bottom 20 of porous material is located within the chamber A to provide a fiuid- 1 izing bed spaced upwardly from the bottom wall 18 to form a plenum chamber 22. Air is supplied to the plenum chamber 22 through a conduit 24 in a manner described hereinbelow and filters through the porous membrane 20 to fluidize the material within the chamber A.

The filling spout or nozzle B is connected to the front wall it) of the chamber A adjacent the lower end thereof by a flexible conduit section 26 (FIG. 2). The flow control valve assembly D comprises a mechanism 28 adapted to pinch the flexible conduit 26 and prevent flow therethrough. The mechanism 28 is controlled by a double acting air cylinder 3i) in a manner described hereinbelow. The nozzle B is mounted for limited upward pivotal movement from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 in order to clamp the 7 bags between the nozzle B and the stationary clamping through a generally tubular portion 9a of the bag that is pressure chamber A is then directed into the bag 9 through l the filling spout B. In order to prevent a portion of the fluidized material flowing into the bag from escaping between the valve 9a and the fillingspout' B, a pneumatic bag seal 15 is provided which, when inflated, seals this structure 13 which comprises an abutment member 32 mounted on a bracket 34 rigidly secured to the frame of the machine. Two actuating arms, one of which is illustrated at 36 (FIG. 2) are rigidly connected with the nozzle B at one of their ends. The opposite ends of the arms 36 are pivotally connected at 38 to the plunger of an air operated cylinder 40. Thus when a bag is slipped over the nozzle B and air is applied to the cylinder 40 the nozzle will be rotated upwardly to clamp the bag between the nozzle B and the stationary clamp 32.

Two U-shaped air manifolds and 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are fixed tothe outer surfaces of the side walls and rear "wall of the chamber A, one above the other. A series of openings 54 provide communication between themanifold 5t? and the interior of the chamber A and, similarly, a series of openings 56 provide communication between the manifold 52 and the interior of the chamher A. 'A filter cloth 55 (FIG. 3) is held against the inner surfaces of the rear wall 12 and the side Walls interconnected for conjoint movement.

- areas-e"? 14 and 16 by a plurality of vertical rods 57. The cloth 55 prevents material in the chamber A from passing through the openings 54 and 56 into the manifolds 50 and 52, respectively. A vertical manifold 58, adjacent the mid-portion of the rear wall 12 of the chamber A interconnects the two manifolds t) and 52. The exterior wall of the manifold 58 is provided with a valve opening 60 (FIG. 3) adjacent its upper end and a valve housing 62 is fixed to said rear wall of the manifold 5% surrounding the opening 60. A disc-shaped plate valve 64 is mounted within the housing 62 and is adapted to be moved into position covering the opening 60, or to a position spaced from the opening 61) to permit air to pass therethrough. The movement of the plate valve 64 is controlled by a double acting air cylinder 66. A conduit 63 connects the valvehousing 62 with the discharge side of the blower I.

A second valve opening 61 (FIG. 5) is provided in the exterior wall of the manifold 58 adjacent its lower end. A valve housing 63 is fixed to said rear wall of the manifold 58 surrounding the valve opening 61. A disc-shaped plate valve 65 is mounted within the housing 63 and is adapted to be moved into position covering the opening 61, or to a position spaced from the opening 61 to permit air to pass therethrough. The movement of the plate valve 65 is controlled by a double acting air cylinder 67. A vent conduit 69 is connected to the valve housing 63. The two air cylinders 66 and 67 which control the valve-s 64 and 65, respectively, are cross connected by conduits 71 and 72 (FIG. 5) so that when either valve is open the other is closed. In accordance with the present invention, the pressure chamber A is vented through the manifolds 50 and 52' while material is being transferred from the upper chamber F. By venting the chamber A through the manifolds 5G and 52, surge of the material into the vent conduit during charging of the chamber A is prevented by the filter cloth 55 covering the openings 54 and 56. I

Two conduits 70 (FIGS. 2 and 4), provided with flexible sections 74 connect the'upper end of the pressure chamber A with the'lower end of the second-fluidizing chamber F. The pinch valve mechanism E (FIGS. 2 and 4), which controls the flow ofmaterial through the two conduits 70, comprises two bars 80 and 82. The bar 81) isconnected between theouter ends of two. arms 84 and '86. Similarly, the bar 82 is connected between the outer ends of two identical arms, one of which is illustrated at 88 in FIG. 2. The arms 86 and 88 are mounted for pivotal movement about the axes of capscrews 90 and 92, respectively, which are threaded into a bracket 93 (FIG. 4) fixed to the side wall 14 of the chamber A. Intermeshing gear teeth are provided on the arms 86 and 88 so that, when the arm 86 is rotated clockwise, the arm 88 will be rotated counterclockwise. The arm 84, and the am not shown but corresponding to the arm 88, are similarly mounted for rotation and An air cylinder 1% is mounted on the outer surface of the front wall of the chamber A, and the plunger 102 thereof is pivotally connected at 104 to an arm 106 connected to the bar 80 so that when the air cylinder 100 is actuated, the bar 80 is rotated clockwise about the axis of the bolt 90and the bar 82 is rotated counterclockwise about the axis of bolt 92, so that the two bars cooperate to pinch the flexible sections 74 of the conduits 76 to close the same.

The fluidizing chamber F has a rear wall 110, two side walls 112 and 114 which converge downwardly, and a bottom wall 116 (FIG. 2) which is provided with an opening to which the conduits 70 are connected. The bottom 116 of the chamber F (FIG. 2) slopes downwardly and rearwardly tow-ardthe openings to which conduits70 are connected. The chamber F is provided with a bell shaped housing 118 which defines a plenum chamber 120 separated from'the chamber F by a sheet of porous material 119 which provides a fluidizing bed. A valve housing 123 is mounted on the housing 118 and is connected by 'a conduit 122 to the valve housing 62, described above. The valve 124 within the housing 123 controls the admission of air from the conduit 122 to the plenum chamber 121?. A double acting air cylinder 126 controls the action of the valve 124. The air motor 126 is operated by fluid pressure supplied through two conduits 128 and 129 in a manner described hereinbelow.

Referring now to the schematic diagram of the pneumaticcontrol system illustrated in FIG. 5, the low pressure air from the blower I (FIG. 1) enters the control system through the conduit 68 in the lower right hand corner of the schematic diagram. High pressure air from any suitable source of air pressure enters the system through the conduit at the upper right hand corner of the diagram.

Air from the conduit 15% passes through a filter 152 and a pressure regulating valve 154 which regulates the pressure to approximately 80 p.s.i. in the outlet conduit 156 of the pressure regulating valve 154. A branch conduit 158, connected to the conduit 156, conducts air to an additional pressure reducing valve 160 the outlet of which is connected to the conduit 24 which furnishes air to the plenum chamber 22 of the fluidizing and pressure chamber A. The air issuing from the pressure regulating valve 160 into the conduit 24 is regulated to approximately 6 p.s.i.

A second branch conduit 17d connects the conduit 156 to a pressure reducing valve 172 which reduces the air pressure to approximately 6 p.s.i. The outlet of the pressure reducing valve 172 is connected by a conduit 174 to the inlet of a pneumatically operated control valve 176. The outlet of the controlvalve 176 is connected by aconduit 178 to the inflatable gland or bag seal 15 formed on the outer portion of the nozzle B whereby, when the control valve 176 is actuated, air pressure from the conduit 174i is permitted to travel through the conduit 17 8 to inflate the gland 15. V

The high pressure air from theconduit 156 passes through a manually operated valve 181 and a conduit 182 to a main differential control valve 184. The valve 134- as schematically illustrated comprises an upper chamber 186 and a lower chamber 188 in communication with each other by means of a slot 1% formed in the wall 122 separating the two chambers. A spool or slide 1% is mounted for sliding movement within the upper chamber 136 of the valve184. The spool 194 is provided with a longitudinal groove 1% which permitsair from the conduit 132 to be conducted to both ends of the slide 194. A manually actuated bleed valve 198 is connected to the chamber 186 adjacent one end of the spool 1%. A similar manually operated bleed valve 2% is connected to the chamber 126 adjacent the other end of the spool or slide 194. A

scale actuated bleed valve 262 is connected in parallel with the valve 2110. With this arrangement, when the valve 198 is actuated the pressure adjacent the right end of the spool 1% as viewed in P16. 5 is reduced and the pressure existing at the other end of the spool causes the spool to move to the right. Similarly, if either the manual valve 2% or the scale actuated valve 202 is actuated, air is bled from the left end of the chamber 1&6 and reduces the pressure at the left end of the spool or slide 19 1, allowing the pressure existent at the other end thereof to move the spool or slide to the left as viewed in FIG. 5.

An annular groove 204 is formed in the spool or slide 1% adjacent the central portion thereof. This'annular groove permits air from the conduit 182 topass through the slot 1% into the lower chamber 188. A slide 2116 is mounted in the lower chamber 188 and is provided with a stern 2118 which projects upwardly through the slot 196 into the annular groove 2% on the upper slide 194. Four ports 21%, 212, 214 and 216 are formed in the outer wall of the lower chamber 188. The slide 213-6 has formed on its under side two hemispherical recesses 220 and222, respectively. When the slideis in position to the right as viewed in FIG. Sit will be noted that the hemispherical recess 222 covers the two ports 214 and 216 placing these ports in communication with each other, and that the port 216 is open to the interior of the chamber 188. Similarly, when the slide is in its left position, the hemispherical recess 22% will provide communication between the ports 210 and 212 and the port 216 will be exposed to the pressure in the interior of the chamber 188.

The master control valve 184 is illustrated in the position it assumes during the filling cycle of the machine. The various assemblies controlled thereby aresimilarly illustrated in the positions which they would occupy during the filling cycle of the machine. The port 219, which in this position of the valve 134 isexposed to the high pressure air entering from the conduit 182, is connected by a conduit 23% with the lower end of the power cylinder 311 thus raising the piston therein to open the valve D to permit material from the chamber A to flow into the bag mounted on the spout B.

A branch conduit 232 connects the conduit 230 with the bag clamp actuating cylinder 4% through a restricted orifice 234-. A by-pass conduit236 is connected around the restricted orifice 234 and is provided with a check valve 238 whereby air under pressure from the conduit 2319 may pass through the by-pass conduit 236 and the checlcvalve 233 to insure quick action of the clamp mechanism to its Clamping position. However, upon release of the pressure in the conduit 23%, the venting of the power cylinder 40 must be accomplished through the restricted orifice 234 since the check valve 238 prevents the return flow through the by-pass conduit 236. Thus the bag clampwill be actuated quickly to its clamping position but will be delayed when moving in the opposite direction to release the bag.

A branch conduit 2% connects the conduit 232 with the control valve 176 for the inflatable gland surrounding the nozzle B and adapted to fill the valve opening of the bag mounted thereon. The conduit 240 is provided with a restricted orifice 242 which delays the actuation of the control valve 176 until after the bag clamp has been actuated. The return flow of air through the conduit 24"? by-passes the restricted orifice by means of a by-pass conduit 24 provided with a check valve 246.

The control valve 176 is of the spool type comprising a spool 2-50 adapted to be moved upwardly within the valve housing by pressure from the conduit 240. When in its uppermost position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, air

from the conduit 174 can pass freely through the valve to the conduit 17% to inflate the gland 15. When the spool 25% is moved to its lower position, the upper end of the spool blocks the end of the conduit 174 and the conduit 178 is placed in communication with a discharge port 252 .in the housing of the valve 17-6 to vent the air from the gland 15, thus releasing the bag for discharge from the spout B.

A branch conduit 260 connects the conduit 230 with one end of the power cylinder 67 and, through the conduit 71 that is connected to one end of the power cylinder 66, conducts air pressure from the conduit 23%) to said power cylinder 66 to move the piston therein in a direction to open the plate valve 64 to permit the low pressure air from the blower to enter from the conduit 63 into the manifolds 58, and 52 to pressurize the chamber Adoring the filling operation and to move the piston in the cylinder 67 to close the plate valve 65.

A branch conduit 129 carries air from conduit 230 to the air motor 126 to close the valve 124 to shut off the flow of low pressure air from the conduit 122 to the fiuidizing pads in the upper fiuidizing chamber F.

A branch conduit 262 connects conduit 260 with the lower end of the power cylinder 1th to actuate the valve mechanism E to cut on? the flow of material from th fiuidizing chamber Fto the pressure chamber A.

When either the manual stop valve 2% or the scale actuated stop valve 292 is actuated, the elements of the main control valve 184 are moved to the left as viewed in the FIG. 5, thus connecting the conduit 239 to the discharge port 212 in the housing of valve 184 through the hemispherical recess 226 on the slide member 266, and at the same time exposing the port 216, which was previously connected to the port 214, to the pressure existing within the valve chamber 188. p

The port 216 is connected by a conduit 270 to the upper 1 end of the power cylinder 30 to move the piston therein downwardly to close the valve mechanism D and prevent further flow from the chamber A to the bag mounted on the spout B.

A branch conduit 2'72 connects the conduit 270 with the upper end of the control valve 176 through a restricted orifice 274-, thus moving the spool 250 downwardly in the control valve 176 to cut off fiow from the conduit 1'74, and to vent the conduit 173 through the port 252. Return flow through the conduit 272 by-passes the restricted orifice 274 by means of a by-pass conduit 276 which is provided with a check valve assembly 273 for preventing flow to the right through the branch conduit 276 as viewed in FIG. 5.

A branch conduit 23d connects the conduit 279 with the opposite end of the power cylinder 67 and through conduit 72, to the opposite end of the power cylinder 66 to move the plate valve to its open position and plate valve 64 to its closed position preventing further flow from the conduit 68 into the manifolds 5t), 52 and 58.

A branch conduit 128 connects conduit 270 to the opposite end of power cylinder 126 to effect opening of the valve 124 to permit flow from the conduit 122 intotlie plenum chamber 120 and through the porous fioor 119 of the fluidizing chamber F.

A branch conduit 282 connects the conduit 2% with the upper end of the power cylinder 100. Pressure from the conduit 270 is thus applied to the upper end of the piston within the power cylinder 1th) to move the same downwardly to open the valve E to permit material to flow from the fiuidizing chamber Finto the pressure chamber A to fill the same. i

In the operation of the apparatus disclosed herein, a bag to be filled is placed over the filling spout B by the opera tor who then presses the start valve 198. The actuation of the bleeder valve 198 shifts the main control valve to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. The high pressure air from the conduit 1S2 enters the conduit 231i and moves the main fill valve D to its open position. Simultaneously, the high pressure air from the conduit 230 travels chamber A and to close the vent valve 65. At the same clamp 32 to clamp the bag thereon.

time, air from the conduit 230 passes through the conduit 129 to close the valve 124 to cut 011 the flow of air to the fluidizing chamber F. The high pressure air'from the conduit 260 is conducted through conduit 262 to the power cylinderltltl which actuates the cut-off valve E to cut off the flow of material from the fluidizing chamber F to the chamber A. Air from the conduit 230 travels through the conduit 232 and through the by-pass conduit 236 around the restricted orifice 234 to actuate the cylinder 40 to tilt the nozzle B upwardly against the stationary Air from the conduit 232 travels through the restricted orifice 242 and the conduit 240 and actuates the control valve 176 to permit air from the conduit 174 to enter the conduit 178 to inflate the gland 15 to form a seal between the nozzle B and the valve opening 9a in the bag. It will be appreciated that, since the air which actuates the valve 176 must pass through the restricted orifice 242, there will be an appreciable time delay before the actuation of the control valve 176, and therefore a corresponding delay after the initial start'of the filling through the'nozzle B before the gland 15 is inflated to fill the valve on the bag.

, the pressurizing of the When the weight of the material deposited in the bag, as detected by the scale mechanism 11 (FIG. 1) upon which the bag rests, reaches a predetermined point, the scale mechanism actuates the bleeder valve 292. If the operator should desire to stop the flow from the nozzle B for any reason prior to the actuation of the valve 202 by the scale mechanism, he need only press the button controlling the valve Ztltl. When either the manually operated valve 2% or the scale actuated valve 2% is actuated, the elements of the main control valve 184- will be shifted to the left as viewed in FIG. 5. When the control elements in the control valve 1% shift to the left, the pres-v sure in the conduit 230 will be vented through the hemispherical recess 2% in the slide 2% and through the discharge port 212. Pressure within the chamber 188 will be applied to the conduit 27%) and thus to the power cylinder 30 to close the main flow valve D. The same pressure will be applied through the conduit 2% to the power cylinder 67 and through the conduit 72 to the power cylinder 66 to open the vent valve 65 and to close the plate valve 64. Also, the pressure will be applied through the conduit 232 to the upper end of the power cylinder 1% to open the flow valve E to permit material to flow from the fiuidizing chamber F into the pressure chamber A to replenish the same. Fluid pressure from the conduit 270 passes through conduit 123 to the power cylinder 126 to move the valve 124 to its open position to permit the low pressure air from the conduit 122 to enter the fiuidizing chamber F to fiuidize the material therein and the material in the conduit G leading from the hoppers H.

Pressure from the conduit 2% will flow through the restricted orifice 274 in the conduit 272 and move the control valve 176 so that the spool 25% blocks the conduit 17d and permits the pressure in the conduit 178 to vent through the port 22, thus causing the gland 15 to deflate to release the valve opening of the bag. The pressure in the line ZSZleading to the power cylinder 4% of the clamp mechanism will slowly vent through the restricted orifice 234 and the weight of the bag will move the spout B downwardly and the bag will fall therefrom.

The pressure chamber A need not bevery tall and the machine can operate with a low head of material since pressure chamber A during the bag filling cycle increases the rate of flow through the spout B into the bag and thus cuts down on the time necessary to deposit a given amount of material within the bag. Since the material in the pressure chamber A is replenished between fill cycles, and each fill cycle starts with the cham her A filled to the top, the effective head operating on the material during each fill cycle is always the same, therefore increasing the accuracy with which the amount of material deposited in each bag may be controlled.

The advantage of venting through the low pressure gas manifold rather than through a pipe connected to the chamber top is that the filter cloth in the chamber prevents material from backing up or surging into the vent line and eliminates the need for piping the vent to a point outside the building since the filter cloth traps the dust within the pressure chamber. Further the elimination of the vent from the top of the pressure chamber permits the use of a second charging pipe thus reducing the time required to recharge the pressure chamber between cycles.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein it should be understood that various changes may be made in its construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for filling powdered or granular material into containers comprising a fluidizing pressure chamber, a material supply valve for introducing said material into said chamber, a material discharge spout connected to said chamber, a material discharge valve for controlling the flow of material through said spout, a gas supply and 3 venting manifold in communication with said chamber, means for supplying iluidizing gas to said chamber to facilitate the discharge of material from said chamber, power operated pressure valve for supplying gas under pressure through said manifold to said chamber, a poweroperated venting valve for venting said chamber through said manifold, a source of power for operating said poweroperated valves, and differential control means operatively connected to said pressure valve means and said venting valve means and said power source and adapted to distribute power from said source for closing said pressure valve means and opening said venting valve means to effect the venting of said manifold and chamber when the material supply valve is open, and for closing said venting valve means and opening said pressure valve means to pressurize said manifold and chamber when the material supply valve is closed so as to expedite discharge of material from the chamber through said spout when said discharge valve is open.

2. A machine for filling powdered or granular material into a container comprising a first pressure chamber, a second material supply chamber, 'a material supply valve operable to allow material to pass from said second to said first chamber, a material discharge spout for conveying the material from said first chamber to the container, and a material discharge valve for controlling the flow of material throughsaid spout, said first chamber including side walls having a plurality of apertures therein, a gas supply and venting manifold fixed to the outer surface of said side walls so as to communicate through the apertures with said first chamber, filter means adjacent the inner surface of the side walls and covering the apertures to prevent flow of material from said first chamber into said manifold but to allow the passage of gas between said first chamber and the manifold, conduit means for supplying a gas under pressure through said manifold to pressurize said first chamber, a power-operated pressure valve for controlling the flow of gas pressure from the conduit means to said manifold, second conduit means for venting gas from said manifold'and aid first chamber, a power-operated venting valve for controlling the flow of gas from said manifold to the second conduit means, means for supplying fluidizing gas to both said first and second chambers to facilitate the discharge of said material respectively therefrom, a source of power for operating said power-operated valves, and differential control means operatively connected to said gas pressure valve and to said venting valve and to said power source and adapted to distribute power from said source'for closing the gas pressure valve and opening the venting valve to effect the venting of the manifold and the first chamber when the material supply valve is open, and for closing said venting valve means and opening said gas pressure valve to pressurize said manifold and chamber when the material supply valve is closed so as to expedite the discharge of material from said first chamber through the spout when the discharge valve is open.

3. A pressurizing and venting system for a machine for filling powdered or granular material into containers, wherein the machine includes a material fiuidizing chamber having a material discharge spout, a filling valve for controlling material flow from said chamber through said spout, and a material supply valve for controlling the flow of material into said chamber, said system comprising a manifold in communication with said chamber, filter means between said manifold and said chamber to prevent the fiow of material from the chamber to the manifold, power-operated valve means adapted to introduce gas under pressure to said manifold and chamber, poweroperated valve means adapted to vent gas from the manifold and from the chamber, a source of power for operating said power-operated means, and differential control means operatively connected tosaid power source and said valves and adapted to distribute power from said source for operating said valves so that, when said supply valve is open and when said filling valve is closed, as when the chamber is being charged with material, the chamber is vented by the venting means, and so that, when said supply valve is closed and when said filling valve is open, as

when a container is being filled through said spout, the chamber is pressurized by the pressurizing means.

4. A pressurizing and venting system for the fiuidizing chamber of a machine for filling powdered or granular material into containers, comprising a material supply valve for introducing a charge of material into said chamber, a'filling valve for discharging fluidized material from said chamber into said containers, a plurality of apertures in the walls of said chamber distributed at various levels over a substantial area of said walls, a manifold secured to said walls outside of said chamber so that all of the apertures connect said chamber with the manifold, a filter arranged within said chamber over the apertures to prevent the flow of material into the manifold, a poweroperated pressure valve adapted to connect a source of gas pressure to the manifold, a power-operatedventing valve adapted to connect a gas vent to the manifold, a

source of power for operating said power-operated valves,

differential control means operatively connected to said source of power, said venting valve, and said pressure valve andadapted to distribute power from said power source for effecting the opening of said venting valve to vent gas from said chamber when the supply valve is open and'the chamber is being charged with material, and

for opening said gas pressure valve when said supply valve is closed to pressurize said chamber and thereby expedite the discharge of material therefrom into said containers.

5. In a machine for filling powdered material into containers, the combination of a pressure chamber, a material supply hopper, a material supply passage and a poweroperated supply valve for delivering material from said supply hopper to said pressure chambena firstfluidizing bed within said supply hopper, means for supplying fluidizing gas under pressure to said fluidizing bed to facilitatethe flow of material from said supply hopper to said pressure chamber when said supply valve is open, top,

bottom and side walls defining said pressure chamber, the

material supply passage entering the top of the chamber, a power-operated container-filling valve and spout connected to the bottom of the chamber, a second fluidizing bed in the bottom of the chamber, means for supplying fluidizing gas under pressure to said second fluidizing bed to facilitate the flow of material from the chamber through said spout when said filling valve is open, a plu rality of apertures in said side walls distributed at various levels and over a substantial area thereof, a manifold secured to said side walls outside of said chamber so that all of said apertures connect said chamber with said manifold, filter means arranged within said chamber over said apertures to prevent the flow of material into said manifold, a pressure conduit for conveying gas under pressure to said manifold and chamber, a power-operated pressure valve arranged within said conduit for controlling the flow of gas under pressure to said manifold, a venting conduit for conveying gas from said manifold and chambena power-operated venting valve arranged 'in said conduit for controlling the flow of gas from said manifold, a source of power for operating said power-operated valves, differential control means operatively connected to said power source and to said venting and supply valves and adapted to distribute power from said source, to close said pressure valve and to open said venting and supply valves to allow a charge of material to enter freely into said chamber from said hopper, to close said ventin and supply valves and to open said pressure valve to pressurize the charged chamber, and to open said filling valve while the chamber is pressurized so that the discharge of material through the spout is expedited. I

'6. A machine for filling granular or powdered material into containers comprising a plurality of surfaces defining a pressure chamber for holding a measured quantity of sure chamber, a source of pressurizing gas, a power operated ,pressurizing valve mounted in said manifold to control the flow of said pressurizing gas into the interior of said pressure chamber through said manifold from said source, a power operated vent valve mounted in said manifold to control the venting of the interior of said chamber through said manifold to the atmosphere during the filling cycle of said chamber, a fluidizing bed in the hopper of said machine, a fiuidizing bed in said pressure chamber, a source of fiuidizing gas adapted to supply said fiuidizing beds, a power operated two-position valve adapted to control the flow of fluidizing gas from said source to the bed in said hopper, a source of control power adapted to be distributed by a differential control means, and a differential control means connected to said power source and to said valves for supplying power from said source to operate said power operated valves so that when said .vent valve is open said fluidizing valve is open and said pressurizing valve is closed, and when said vent valve is closed, said fiuidizing valve is closed and said pressurizing valve is open.

7. A machine for discharging granular or powdered material into containers, said machine having a pressure chamber with at least one aperture in at least one of the surfaces thereof, a pressurizing and venting system operating through said aperture for increasing ambient pressure in said chamber to act on the material therein during the discharge cycle and for venting the chamber during the filling thereof, said system comprising a manifold structure enclosing said aperture whereby the interior space of said manifold is in communication with the interior space of said chamber, said manifold having a vent opening connecting the interior space, of said manifold to the atmosphere, a two-position vent valve adapted to control said vent opening and having a power driven actuator attached thereto, for transferring said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions,

a sourceof pressurizing fluid, a conduit connecting said source to said manifold, a two-position pressurizing valve in said conduit adapted, totcontrol the supply of said pressurizing gas from said source to said manifold and having a power driven actuator attached thereto for transferring said pressurizing valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions, a source of power adapted to be distributed by a differential control means, a differential control means supplied by said source, conduits for conveying power from said differential control means to the actuators for said vent and pressurizing valves cross-connected so that when power is provided to close one of said valves power is provided simultaneously to open the other of said valves, a system for fluidizing the material handled by said machine including a fluidizing bed in said hopper, a fluidizing bed in said pressure chamber, a source of fluidizing gas, a two-position valve adapted to control the flow of said fiuidizing gas to said hopper, a power driven actuator for driving said valve, and a conduit connecting-said actuator to said difierential control means for causing said fluidizing valve to open during the filling cycle of said pressure chamber and space of said manifold is in communication with the interior space of said chamber; said manifold having a vent opening connecting the interior space of said manifold to the atmosphere; a two-position vent valve adapted to control said vent opening and having a power driven actuator attached thereto for transferring said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions; a source of pressurizing fluid; a conduit connecting said source to said manifold; a two-position pressurizing valve in said conduit adapted to control the supply of said pressur-izing gas from said source to said manifold and having a power driven actuator attached thereto for transferring said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions; a source of power adapted to be distributed by a differential control means; a d-iiferential control means supplied by said source, conduits for conveying power from said differential control means to the actuators for said vent and pressurizing valves, said conduits lbein-g cross-connected so that When power is provided to close one of said valves power is provided simultaneously to open the other of said valves; a system for fluidizing the material in said hopper and the material in said chamber including a plenum chamber in said hopper defined by one surface thereof and a sheet of porous material adapted so that fiuidizing gas can pass from said plenum chamber to the main space within said hopper only by passing through said porous material; a source of fluidizing gas; a two-position fluidizing valve adapted to control the flow of fluidizing gas from said source through said plenum chamber into the main space of said hopper; said valve having a power-driven actuator for transferring said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions; conduits connecting said fluidizing valve to said differential control means so that said fluidizing valve is open during the filling cycle of the chamber and closed during the discharge cycle; a plenum chamber in said pressure chamber defined by one surface thereof and a sheet of porous material adapted to that fluidizing gas can pass from said plenum chamber to said pressure chamber only by passing through said porous material, and a conduit connecting said source of fluidizing gas to the plenum chamber in said pressure chamber.

9. Arnachine for discharging granular or powdered material into containers, said machine having a pressure chamber with at least .one aperture in at least one of the surfaces thereof, a pressurizing and venting system operating through said aperture for increasing ambient pressure in said chamber to act on the material therein during the discharge cycle and for venting the chamber during the filling thereof, said system comprising a manifold structure enclosing said aperture whereby the interior space of said manifold is in communication with the interior'space of said chamber, said manifold having a vent opening connecting the interior space of said manifold to the atmosphere, at two-position vent valve adapted to con trol said vent opening and having a power driven actuator attached thereto for transferring said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions, a source of pressurizing fluid, a conduit connecting said source to said manifold, a two-position pressurizing valve in said conduit adapted to control the supply of said pressurizing gas from said source to said manifold and having a power driven actuator attached thereto for transferring said valve from one of said positions to the other of said positions, a source of power adapted to be distributed by a differential control means, a differential control means supplied by said source, and conduits for conveying power from said differential control means to the actuators for said vent and pressurizing valves, said conduit-s being cross-connected so that when power is provided. to close one of said valves power is provided simultaneously to open the other of said valves.

10. A machine for discharging granular or powdered material into containers, saidrnachine having a pressure chamber with at least one aperture in at least one of the surfaces thereof, a pressurizing and venting system operating through said aperture for increasing ambient pressure in the chamber to act on the material therein during the discharge cycle and for venting the chamber during the filling thereof, said' system comprising a manifold structure enclosing said aperture whereby the interior space of said manifold is in communication with the interior space of said chamber, said manifold having a vent opening connecting the interior space of said manifold to the atmosphere, a two-position vent valve adapted to control said vent opening, said valve having an open position under power and .a closed position under power, a pneumatit cylinder-type actuator for driving said vent valve and attached thereto, a source of pressurizing gas, a conduit connecting said source to said manifold, a two-position pressurizing valve in said conduit adapted to control the supply of said pressurizing gas from said source through said manifold, said valve having an open position under power and a closed position under power, a pneumatic cylinder-type actuator for driving said pressurizing valve and attached thereto, a source of relatively high pressure control air, a pneumatic pilot valve for supplying said control air simultaneously from said source to the actuators for said vent valve and said pressurizing valve, conduits for conveying air from said high pressure source to said pilot valve, conduits for conveying high pressure air from said pilot valve to the actuators for said vent and said pr'essurizing valves, said conduits being cross-connected in such a way that when said pilot valve provides air to close said vent valve, air is provided simultaneously to open said pressurizing valve, and when said pilot valve provides air to open said vent valve, air is provided simultaneously to close said pressurizing valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,356 11/38 Ryan et a1. 141-83 2,887,292 5/60 Ti tchenal 222-493 X 2,935,233 5/60 Vogt 222 193 X FOREIGN PATENTS 772,125 4/52 Smidth et al.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J, DEMBO, EUGENE F. BLANCHA-RD,

' Examiners. 

1. A MACHINE FOR FILLING POWDERED OR GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO CONTAINERS COMPRISING A FLUIDIZING PRESSURE CHAMBER, A MATERIAL SUPPLY VALVE FOR INTRODUCING SAID MATERIAL INTO SAID CHAMBER, A MATERIAL DISCHARGE SPOUT CONNECTED TO SAID CHAMBER, A MATERIAL DISCHARGE VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF MATERIAL THROUGH SAID SPOUT, A GAS SUPPLY AND VENTING MANIFOLD IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER MEANS FOR SUPPLYING FLUIDIZING GAS TO SAID CHAMBER TO FACILITATE THE DISCHARGE OF MATERIAL FROM SAID CHAMBER, POWER OPERATED PRESSURE VALVE FOR SUPPLYING GAS UNDER PRESSURE THROUGH SAID MANIFOLD TO SAID CHAMBER, A POWEROPERATED VENTING VALVE FOR VENTING SAID SAID CHAMBER THROUGH SAID MANIFOLD, A SOURCE OF POWER FOR OPERATING SAID POWEROPERATED VALVES, AND DIFFERENTIAL CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID PRESSURE VALVE MEANS AND SAID VENTING VALVE MEANS AND SAID POWER SOURCE AND ADAPTED TO DISTRIBUTE POWER FROM SAID SOURCE FOR CLOSING SAID PRESSURE VALVE MEANS AND OPENING SAID VENTING VALVE MEANS TO EFFECT THE VENTING OF SAID MANIFOLD AND CHAMBER WHEN THE MATERIAL SUPPLY VALVE IS OPEN, AND FOR CLOSING SAID VENTING VALVE MEANS AND OPENING SAID PRESSURE VALVE MEANS TO PRESSURIZE SAID MANIFOLD AND CHAMBER WHEN MATERIAL SUPPLY VALVE IS CLOSED SO AS TO EXPEDITE DISCHARGE OF MATERIAL FROM THE CHAMBER THROUGH SAID SPOUT WHEN SAID DISCHARGE VALVE IS OPEN. 